Page 48 of Cherry Moon

I retched, barely keeping the puke down. “I can’t…I can’t do this.”

“You have seconds left to choose, Akira. And you must choose before the window closes. We are weakened by the greater tide. Please. We need you. The Cherry Blade is a potent concentration of our power, perfect to be bonded with your tenshi blood. While our eyes are on the greater tide, the sword’s power will break through any barriers and conditions the mazoku’s magical abuse has created.”

“I can’t. I can’t be without him.”

“And the world cannot be without a warrior, especially one with your tenshi blood,” the voice continued. “We are not enough. With a warrior to fight in our name, The Nine can be destroyed so the healing force of the Cherry Moon may continue.”

And a world without G wasn’t a world I wanted to live in.

“I can’t…”

“Eight seconds to go,” the voice said. “Then it is done.”

No. Not seconds. I needed more time to find a loophole. Because I didn’t want the world to suffer either. I did care. I’d always care.

“Please… We’re supposed to be getting married.”

“Five… Four…”

“I can’t…I can’t be without him…”

“Three… Two… O⁠—”

I saw movement, a body swooping in.

Zach pulled the blade from the ground, holding it aloft.

The crash in the cottage. Had that been him?

A bolt of pink lightning burst from the moon, striking the tip. It snaked down the steel, spreading along his arms until it reached his wrists, branding them with glowing pink Japanese script.

桜

(Sakura)

The markings smoldered like embers on his skin. His eye turned red like the ripest of cherries, shining so brightly it hurt my own peepers.

“Zach…”

My brother launched himself at Bony Hag with the katana. She hissed, going in for the attack. I got up, fueled by adrenaline and a cocktail of emotions.

G. G. G. G.

I slammed into the hourglass, punching, punching, punching. Magic poured into me, my hands alight with pink energy. They were hot as fuck, helping me damage this damn barrier.

Because of love.

Because of us.

Fissures spiderwebbed across the surface, the whole thing quaking.

“Gabriel!” I screamed. “I want my Gabriel!”

A burst of light, and my fist went through the glass, sand rushing out. I grabbed the edges of the hole, tearing off chunks until I could get through. The glass sliced my palm, blood running down my arm.

G. G. G. G.

The jagged edges of the hole bit at my flesh, tearing my clothing. And I didn’t care. Fuck the pain, fuck everything.